Without looking back you run, the floor a ruin of smashed stone and huge crystalline boulders. Behind you the Druhl is a raging force of nature, sweeping aside debris as it charges down upon you. In these few frantic moments you keep your head and skilfully negotiate the broken flooring, making straight for the small passageway. With the Dragon's massive clawed fist raking the ground at your heels you rush into the dark opening and fall headlong into a pile of dust and desiccated plant remains.Quickly you pull yourself to your feet and turn, stepping backwards as you come face to face with the beast. Within the safety of the passage it cannot reach you and for a moment you look directly into its spectral eyes, dark bottomless orbits that carry no spark of mercy or compassion. For just a moment the Druhl watches you then withdraws from the opening. Beyond the confines of the passageway the skeletal Dragon bellows, its frustration and malice palpable as it crashes about the cavern, turning all about it into ruin.In the dark of the passageway you listen as the beast vents its fury but then the terrible commotion subsides. In the ensuing silence you wonder if the Druhl has gone, its task left unfulfilled, but as you turn to continue down the passage a heavy impact rocks the stone corridor. Quickly upon its heels comes another and soon the whole passageway tremors to the sounds of tearing stone and crushing rock. The beast is coming after you, even if it means smashing a hole through the foundations of the mountain itself.As the passage walls start to collapse you are forced to run again, rushing along the corridor as it vibrates and lurches to the steady rhythm of the Dragon's efforts to reach you. Quickly you find a small circular chamber and against its far walls a threshold to a stairway that spirals upwards into darkness overhead. With no choices left you do not stop. With the beast at your back you run onto the stairs and do not stop climbing until the Dragon's thundering assault is left far behind.

This book, and its associated books and other documents in the Chronicles of Arborell series are the intellectual property of the author, Wayne F Densley, and all rights are reserved by him. Windhammer is best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution. Any questions regarding the Chronicles of Arborell can be answered by emailing the author at densleyw@shoal.net.au